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An officer comforts several children after officers stop and arrest their mother and her boyfriend for a spree of robberies committed throughout southern Palm Beach County. The children were in the van and witnessed several of the purse snatchings. |
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100 E. Boynton Beach Blvd. Boynton Beach, Florida 33435 |
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How come so many officers showed up when they were called? |
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Depending on the circumstances, the officers assigned to this particular call may have either felt as though there was an element of risk sufficient to warrant precautions such as deployment of additional personnel. In most cases, it is standard protocol for officers to "back-up" one another on calls or traffic stops. It is impossible to predict which call is going to pose a risk, so officers are encouraged to assist each other whenever feasible for their safety and that of the people they are serving. |
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Can a police officer legally stop me for no reason? |
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Yes and no. Under the color of law or as a law enforcement officer, he or she may only stop you if they believe they can articulate reasonable suspicion which would justify an investigative stop. As people, however, officers are permitted to stop and speak to you whenever you consent to random conversation. |
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How come police officers don't shake hands with people they meet? |
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There are several reasons for this. The first is that it is not safe for an officer to give up their strong hand to another person. If the person who is extending their hand has the intention to do the officer physical harm, this puts the officer at a significant tactical disadvantage. Since there is no way of knowing the intentions of someone who extends their hand to the officer in apparent friendship, the officer generally will not return the gesture. The other reason is simple health concerns. Let's face it, police officers are intermingling with the general public the entire time that they are working. If the officer continues to have casual physical contact with the dozens of people that they meet during any particular shift, they would be sick more often than not. |
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How should I refer to the police in front of my children? |
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For the most part, the manner in which you choose to raise your children is strictly your business. As officers, we recommend that you encourage your children to see police officers as their "friends." You should refrain from making comments to your child like, "See that police officer over there? If you don't start behaving, I am going to have the officer take you to jail." This makes children leery about coming to us when they get lost or need assistance. Encourage your children to use us as a resource for safety and security. |
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When should I dial 911? |
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It would almost always be appropriate to call 911 when you feel that there is a significant risk of life or limb. You should dial 911 to report a serious traffic crash, an in-progress crime, or if you think someone is lurking around your house. Misuse of 911 presents a significant danger to the general public and the emergency personnel who are charged with their protection. As a result, the misuse of 911 is expressly prohibited by Florida Law and violators are subject to arrest, incarceration, and/or a monetary fine. |
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Do I have talk to the police when they stop me? |
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That would depend on the reason the officer stopped you. If it is to investigate a possible crime or to issue you a traffic citation, not speaking to an officer may earn you a stay in the county jail. If the officer approaches you and engages you in general conversation, and you can be sure that the officer is not in the official performance of his duties, you are under no legal obligation to entertain the conversation... that might be kind of rude though, don't you think? |
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Why do police officers frequently shine lights in my eyes or mirrors? |
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Who are you? We don't know. We also don't know what your intentions are. Light has a wonderful tendency to keep our movement somewhat concealed from view, and subsequently enhances our safety against a potential assault. We are certainly not saying that an officer who uses their lighting on a traffic stop thinks that you are going to try to hurt him / her, but we take the precautions with everyone, because again... we never know. |
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When does an officer have to read me my rights? |
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This is an interesting question. In fact, it is a question that many legal experts tend to debate. Most of the confusion can be blamed on TV police dramas. Very simply, there are two requirements that must be present for an officer to be required to read you your rights. You must be "in custody" and you must be in a position to answer questions which would incriminate you. Period. So, for instance: if you are arrested for retail theft, the officer has reviewed the store's video tape of the offense, recovered the merchandise, and for whatever reason, does not feel as though they need your input into the investigation, they may not choose to read you your rights. That is perfectly appropriate. |
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Is it safe to pet a police dog? |
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Ask the handler. These dogs have two distinct personalities. They serve as loyal and diligent police partners to their handler when he /she is working and they serve as pets for the officers and their families when off-duty. If you talk to a K-9 officer, they will tell you that their dog knows when it is time to go to work. One of the skills that handlers develop with their dogs is their sociability. More then likely, the handler will permit you to pet his four legged partner, but always get the officer's permission first. |
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